Elysia's Pov
If I still wanted my head to stay intact, I needed to stay away from the Dravons—alongside the Alpha if I could, and especially the Alpha's mysterious son. He was the definition of intimidation and sophistication in human form. I still couldn't help but feel how my breath seized in his presence, especially after our skin had touched.
I pushed my hair back roughly, releasing a sigh as I got off the 'shame' called clothing, holding every piece out like I was asked to pick up trash. A violent knock came on my door, shaking it so badly I thought it was going to be pulled down.
"I will get back to you," I whispered the Alpha's words, and I thought I knew what was coming for me as the knocks grew heavier, yet no voice spoke to announce who it was.
I tried not to panic as I draped a quick robe over myself, moving toward the door. It turned out to be the Alpha's fourth wife, Asia—overly dramatic and, from what I had heard, desperate to become the Alpha's favorite so he would mark her and make her Luna. The Alpha never had mates, no Luna, only wives, and mistresses, and his pack members didn't seem to care.
She poked her head into the room, three women standing behind her. This morning, there had only been two grown women with her, but now another had joined—a girl my age, her jaw clenched tightly as she refused to look my way.
"Why didn't you open the door quickly?" Asia asked, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look into her eyes. I was taller, and she barely reached my chest as I stared down at her.
"If the Alpha sees you with another man, know that it's over."
A slight frown formed on my face, not expecting her to assume I had a man here with me.
"We have someone for you… Princess Vera," she introduced one of the ladies who stood behind her, arms folded around her waist. I noticed how the lady, Vera sniffled, forcing back tears in her hate-filled eyes. Her fists clenched so tightly they turned white as paper.
"I told you not to give me that face, Princess. She's just as wretched as you are—a wretched princess helping someone even more wretched," Asia mocked us both. But I dare not show the defiant look in Vera's eyes. I had heard worse insults than this; they didn't deserve a reaction; they just weren't worth what I'd imagined doing to all of them.
Catching us all unaware, the next sound we heard was Asia's scream. A gasp tore from my lips as blood coated Vera's hand and the cloth around Asia's stomach where Vera's fist was glued to now.
"Die! Die! Die! Your wretched family has taken more than enough from me!" Vera sobbed as she stabbed Asia over and over again. Asia's handmaidens, who had tried to come to her rescue, turned and ran instead.
Asia stumbled backward, clutching her stomach, blood trailing from the corner of her lips. But Vera still wasn't ready to stop, and I was too scared to stop her. I could only stand there, wide-eyed, watching the horror unfold—until Vera was suddenly pulled back aggressively by a man.
Not just any man.
One of the Alpha's many sons I knew of.
Derek Dravon.
It was said he was the Alpha's second child, though I had no idea who the first was.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he growled, slamming Vera—who still had Asia's blood dripping from her hand—against his chest "You still haven't learned what you are, have you, Princess? You are a slave to the Nightshade Pa—"
"I am your mate. You won't treat me like this, Derek." I expected her voice to waver as she said it, but it was only filled with defiance until it settled in slightly...
The lady, Vera, was Derek's mate, and he wanted her to be my maid?! I had forgotten about Asia, who was stuck in a pool of her own blood. I was too focused on Derek and Vera for my own good.
"It's my father's rules. Get that ego off. Your pack, your father, is dead… Don't make me kill you."
"Then do…" I watched her push the knife into his hand, and my heart made a quick leap, my eyes widening… She brought his hand to her chest and again to her throat.
"Do it. Stab it right into whatever part you like. You won't make me bow to that asshole you call your father or to you, his son."
How more of a fool would I feel if I were to say a thing? A lady dragged with her esteem crawling right with her…
"You are to suffer slowly. The daughter of an Alpha working for a wolf-less wolf. Father wants to see how far you will last. Prove him wrong."
Derek scoffed, throwing the bloody knife at my feet before he let Vera go. Her lips trembled.
"Have her stay where she belongs—the maids' quarters. Let her get to know her mistress first."
Derek ordered the guards, who had mysteriously appeared at the scene, and Asia was nowhere to be found. But blood on the marble floor could still be seen, and I knew Asia wasn't just stabbed with an ordinary knife—there was wolfsbane on it.
I watched as Vera was taken away without a fight, but her face was caught between different emotions—hate, a smirk that showed a kind of satisfaction… and vengeance burning through. I prayed she wouldn't hurt herself. I wasn't bad. I wouldn't hurt her or make her feel like a maid if she came to me. I am worthless, useless but harmless.
I got back into the room, closing the door behind me, praying for no more disturbances for the day. I had had enough. In my head, I'd have more than Vera if I had a chance to hurt those who had hurt me, physically and emotionally.
I had spent the half of the day in my room, curtains down and the door shut tightly, praying the Alpha never called for me and no one came to take this little peace from me. I got immersed once more in one of the many books I owned back home. Surprisingly, all my stuff had been moved to this room, and I was glad some books were moved too. What more could an introvert have? Books, mother nature, and nothing more than two friends whom she barely talks to because she has someone to please.
"Get dressed. Come for your meal. You need to have enough energy to dance for the Alpha at dusk… Your m.a.i.d would come to help you with what you should wear at dusk," a feminine voice said through the door before silence reigned, a low sigh escaping my lips.